Every person should know and be able to provide first aid in case of a knife wound. If you know the simplest rules and the algorithm for conducting initial assistance, then a person's life can be saved, even in a very serious situation. Regardless of where exactly the damage was inflicted, the main thing is how first aid will be provided for a knife wound. First of all, you need to pull yourself together and not panic.
How dangerous is a knife wound?
If it so happened that a person was injured with a knife, then others should help him hold out until the ambulance arrives, it is advisable to get rid of the fear of blood and serious damage to soft tissues, and do everything possible to save the victim.
The fact is that a wound can be of a different nature, for example, a cut, it can look simply terrifying, as severely soft tissues are damaged anda lot of blood, but such a cut is not as bad as a stab wound with a small hole.
Let's consider in detail how first aid is provided for stab wounds.
Types and classification of knife wounds
All knife wounds can be divided into types such as:
- Slashed wounds. They are much less common. They are applied with a pointed object, damaging soft tissues and tendons. The wound in this case may be gaping and open.
- Stab wounds. They may be small, but very deep. Such knife blows can harm the organs that are inside. Dangerous if bleeding opens.
- Stab wounds are jagged and dangerous if inflicted on the chest or abdomen.
- Cut wounds are usually not so deep and damage only soft tissue.
For any injury, you must be able to properly provide first aid and wait for a team of doctors.
Basic algorithm of actions
A person who happened to be next to the victim should first of all call an ambulance or, if the first-aid post is too far away, take the victim to the hospital in their own transport. This will help buy time. Assessment of the situation plays a major role, because, on the basis of this, it will be easier for a person to orient himself and choose the right algorithm for his actions. Then you need to do the following:
- Help should be provided in any condition, regardlesswhether the victim is conscious or not. In the case when the victim is in an unconscious state, no attempt should be made to bring him back to consciousness.
- When unconscious, the victim needs to throw his head back and turn him on his side, so you can ensure the normal passage of air into the lungs, and if suddenly there are vomit, they will not clog the airways
- When a knife sticks out of some part of the body, you should never take it out, on the contrary, in this case it can play an important role in saving the life of the victim. The fact is that in this condition, a person will not have heavy bleeding, which can be fatal. In this case, first aid for a penetrating stab wound may consist of administering 500 mg of Dicinon and 2 ml of Novocain. It is important to remember that drugs are injected as close as possible to the edges of the wound.
- If the knife is not present in the wound, then it is necessary to lay the victim on a flat surface so that the wound is accessible. The person's legs should be slightly elevated, so a cushion or rolled-up jacket can be placed under the knees.
- By the type of blood, you can assess the nature of the bleeding. If it is scarlet, then this is arterial bleeding, and if the blood flowing from the wound is burgundy, we can talk about venous bleeding.
- First aid for stab wounds is to stop the bleeding. Arterial bleeding is stopped by clamping the damaged vessel. Experts say thatyou can pinch the wound directly with your fingers, and as soon as the bleeding stops, remain in this position until help arrives. The fact is that arterial bleeding is characterized by a huge loss of blood, because it beats almost like a fountain.
Further actions should be carried out by medical workers who will arrive at the scene.
What to do with a stab wound to the neck?
In the case when there was a wound in the neck area, it is worth acting quickly. First aid for a stab wound to the throat is as follows:
- It is necessary to tilt the victim's head in the direction where the cut is located, while the head should be pressed to the shoulder as much as possible. These actions will help reduce blood loss.
- Then you should raise the hand that is on the opposite side of the wound on the neck.
- The wound should be covered with a dressing, but it may not always be at hand, so a piece of cloth can be dispensed with.
- A napkin or a piece of cloth must be bandaged to the shoulder.
- When wounded in the region of the Adam's apple, it is necessary to pierce the trachea so that the victim can breathe. As a rule, such actions are performed in the area of the trachea, which is located below the Adam's apple. A tube should be inserted into the wound, which will be open on both sides, so it will be possible to ensure the flow of air into the lungs.
- If there is no fracture, and the cartilage has moved to the side, then the main task of the one who happened to be near the victim is to givechance for a person to suffocate. For this, the person is seated and placed on the knees of the person who is helping.
- The victim's head is thrown back and four blows are applied to the forehead with an open palm. Such blows help to put the cartilage back in place.
How to treat a knife wound in the chest?
As a rule, a stab wound to the chest has deep penetration, it can be more than 4 cm. First aid for a stab wound to the chest is as follows:
- First of all, it is worth spreading the edges of the wound to see the bottom of the damage, as the entry wound may be small.
- In no case should you stick your fingers inward to measure the depth of the wound in this way, on the contrary, you can expand it even more.
- If the victim has a cardiac arrest, then you can lightly hit the edge of your fist in the region of the left nipple. After such manipulations, it is necessary to feel the pulse of a person.
- When the wound is too deep, blood bubbles began to inflate from it, then you should firmly press your palm to the wound, it is advisable to close the wound with polyethylene and tightly wrap it with a bandage.
- If the wound is open, and the object that caused the injury remains there, then it cannot be removed.
The victim must be laid on a flat surface and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
What to do if the heart muscle is damaged?
Proper first aid for stab and gunshot wounds gives the victim a chance to live. Even with serious wounds to the heart area, a person can survive, but only if the people who are next to him act correctly.
A wound in the region of the heart is very dangerous, so a person should immediately ensure complete rest, he should not move. Do not try to get an object that sticks out of the wound, because in this way you can only make things worse. It is advisable to fix the item in the wound, for this an adhesive plaster or bandage is ideal.
If the object is removed from the wound, then it is worth trying to clamp the hole from which blood flows with your finger. Then all actions must be carried out by medical personnel.
How to deal with wounds in the abdominal cavity?
First aid for a stab wound to the stomach can be completely different, it all depends on whether important organs were affected or not, but in any case, the algorithm of actions should be as follows:
- It is imperative to disinfect the wound, as it becomes infected when injured.
- For the treatment of the wound, any antiseptic that is at hand is suitable, it can be vodka or alcohol.
- The patient may go into shock from severe pain, so the person's skin and face may become very pale. But in no case should you relieve pain with narcotic analgesics.
- A cold must be applied to the wound.
- If there is a prolapse of the abdominal organs during a knife wound, then they cannot be set back, it is necessary along the edgesput cotton wool, and cover the organs themselves with gauze. A wide bandage is used to fix the organs.
It is important to remember that it is not allowed to give anything to the victim in this state, it is even forbidden to take medicines by mouth.
What to do if your back is injured?
If the back of the chest and the area of the lungs are damaged, it is necessary to act immediately and clearly. A wound located in the central part of the back may indicate damage to the spinal cord, so a person can experience paralysis and numbness of the whole body. First aid for a knife wound consists of the following actions:
- The victim must be laid on his stomach, if the object is inside the wound, then it should not be taken out, if there is no object, then it is advisable to stop the bleeding.
- It is important to prevent infection of the wound, as this can lead to meningitis in the future, so the edges of the wound will need to be closed.
- You need to wait for an ambulance.
All actions should be carried out clearly and without panic, if the victim is conscious, then you should talk to him and distract him before the doctors arrive.
What to do with soft tissue injuries?
First aid for a stab wound in the wrist area is to reduce blood loss as quickly as possible, so you need to close your wrist with a shirt lapel or firmly press your hand to your chest. If the cut fell on the area of the fingers or the back of the hand, thenyou need to squeeze a piece of any tissue in your fist and reduce blood flow.
If the wound was in the area of the elbow bend, then the wound should be pulled off and clamped in the elbow.
What is forbidden to do when stabbed?
Medical assistance must be provided as correctly as possible, therefore, prohibited methods must also be taken into account:
- You can't set organs.
- It is forbidden to remove the item from the wound channel.
- In no case should you make bandages on the fallen organs and squeeze them, and it is also not allowed to put direct cold on the wounds.
- In case of a wound in the stomach, it is forbidden to feed or drink the patient.
- You can not use ointments or creams, especially not allowed to fall asleep in the wound of various medications.
It is important to remember that even a minor injury to an arm or leg, where there are no vital organs, can be life-threatening, so the first honey provided correctly. help with a knife wound increases the chances of life.
What is the treatment of stab wounds?
Any medical assistance to the victim includes stopping the bleeding. If it is required not only to stop the blood, but also to treat the edges of the wound, then disinfectant solutions must be used, hydrogen peroxide is suitable for this, in no case should alcohol be used, as it can cause burns to unprotected tissues.
As soon as the victim gets intoa medical institution, he will be provided not only with first aid for a knife wound, but with qualified assistance from experienced doctors who can stop the bleeding, perform an operation to remove the object that was injured, and conduct antibiotic therapy.
